Truss



March 7, 1950 c, Fl L uE 2,499,480

'rauss Filed May 6, 1948 Inventor Car/Ion E. F il/auer Patented Mar. 7, 1950 TRUSS Carlton E. Fillauer, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application May 6, 1948,

Serial No. 25,479

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-95) This invention relates to a truss and is directed to certain improvements therein enabling the user thereof to retain such support on his body without chafing or other discomfort.

A primary object of the invention therefore is to provide a device that will seat smoothly on the body of a person without subjecting him to the discomforts usually encountered in the use of devices of this type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that is adjustable in order to fit the body of any person and is also elastic so that it may stretch when a wearer seats himself.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device that is both efficient and durable, simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

The various features of the invention and novel combination of parts will be best understood from the following description in relation to the accompanying drawings illustrative of one form of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of the device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention with the sheath strap in closed position, with certain parts being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a transverse view of the truss pads and the clamping means therefore; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the device in position upon the body of a person.

Referring to the figures, the invention is generally shown at IE) and includes a body spring member or frame l2 and a back strap member l4.

Frame member I2 is curved in the manner illustrated and in conventional manner to fit the body of a wearer, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 4. Frame I2 is open at the back ends thereof and, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it is recessed at IS, a relatively short distance inwardly from the rear open end to mount therein in seated relation, in any suitably desired manner as by welding or riveting, a plate It of conventional design. Thus, it is readily apparent that the inner surfaces of plate 18 and frame [2 blend together and present a continuous, smooth surface. Plate I8 is arcuately curved as shown at 29. Studs or buttons 22 are silver soldered to the outer periphery of frame l2 in order to avoid projection into the body of the wearer. Truss pads 24 are of usual construction, such as rubber or any other suitable material encased in leather and are mounted, as illustrated in Figure 3, by means of bars 26 on frame l2 and are adjustably retained thereon by means of suitable bolts 28 extending through said bars and into said truss pads. As the truss pads do not form any part of the invention, it is considered unnecessary to further describe their construction.

Back strap 14 includes opposite ends 30 of leather of a tapering construction and includes apertures 32 for a short length therealong to be retained on studs 22 in adjustable relation. The main body portion of back strap I4 is wider than the terminal portions 30 and has mounted thereon in any suitable manner, as by sewing, or the like, an elastic fabric 3 of cotton or linen or any desired material. It is to be noted that fabric means 34 are only sewed along their longitudinal lengths and are free at the opposite extremes to form sheaths with the ends 3!] of the back strap M for receiving the :plates 18 as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Of course, in the event that it is necessary to use the adjustable apertures 32, the distance that fabric 34 travels on plate l8 will vary, as necessitated by the area of the body. However, this will not interfere in any manner with the comfort in use for which this invention has been devised.

In use, the back strap member It may be entirely removed from the frame member [2 and either part of the device is readily replaceable, thereby avoiding the necessity for purchasing an entirely new combination. Strap M is then secured by means of apertures 32 on one of studs 22 and the belt is placed around the body. Plate 18 is slid into the sheath-like construction of strap 14 in the manner shown in Figure 2, with the inner. arcuate surface 26 and the inner surface of fabric 34 engaging each other. In this manner, a continuous smooth surface is provided and the wearer may leave the device in position for longer periods of time than has normally been the case. Adjustment is effected by selection of the desired aperture 32 for retention of buttons 22.

From the foregoing, it is readily seen that the invention overcomes the objectionable features of the prior devices. It is to be understood that the invention is .not to be limited to the identical constructions disclosed in the drawings, since it is obvious that various changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having described as new. is: v

1. Atruss scomprising an open-ended frame, truss pads. retained thereon intermediate its ends, longitudinallgpextending recesses in the free ends of said frame,"arcuate plates secured to said frame the invention, what is claimed and received in said recesses, an elongated back strap having free end portions, and means for adjustably and removably attaching said free end portions to said frame, said back strap including an elastic band interconnecting said free end portions to form sheaths therewith for receiving said arcuate plates.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said attaching means includes studs extending from the outer surface of said frame adjacent the. free 10 ends thereof and spaced apertures provided in said back strap free end portions for releasably receiving said studs.

CARLTON E. FILLAUER.

4 REFERENCES (CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 451 Salisbury Nov. 4, 1837 69,028 Rowe Sept. 17, 1867 1,127,304. Starkweather. Feb. 2, 1915 ,408,683 Barrows 1 Mar. 7, 1922 1,562,064 Schutze Nov. 17, 1925 2,171,905 Barnhard Sept. 5, 1939 

